Smolov heats up Champions League race as Lokomotiv win Moscow derby

Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 Spartak Moscow
Sunday 11 April, RZD Arena

Goals: Lokomotiv - Kamano (22), Smolov (45+2)
Sent off: Spartak - Ayrton (45+1)
Man of the Match: Fedor Smolov (Lokomotiv)

Fedor Smolov inspired Lokomotiv to yet another RPL win - their sixth in a row since the winter break - by setting up Francois Kamano for a close-range tap-in midway through the first half. On the stroke of half time, he spotted a gap to smash a free kick into Aleksandr Maksimenko’s bottom corner from just outside the area.

That set piece came about after Rifat Zhemaletdinov had raced clear, only to be hauled down by Ayrton Lucas. The Brazilian was duly shown a red card. The 10-man Spartak piled on a valiant amount of pressure, but the closest they came to actually reducing the deficit came when Guilherme pulled off an impressive save from Jordan Larsson.

Lokomotiv stay third on 46 points, now just one point behind Spartak in second.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 17 April - Lokomotiv Moscow vs FC Rostov; Sunday 18 April - Spartak Moscow vs FC Ufa